Kinshasa/Geneva: An undiagnosed disease has caused 31 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Among the deaths, 71% are below the age of 15, with 54.8% of the total in children under the age of five years. There are 145 cases aged 15 and above, of which nine died (CFR: 6.2%). Deaths have primarily occurred in the village communities.
So far, between October 24 and December 5, 2024, overall 406 cases of the disease with symptoms of fever, headache, cough, runny nose and body aches have been recorded in the Panzi health zone in Kwango Province. Females constitute 59.9% of the total cases. The main symptoms associated with death include difficulty in breathing, anaemia, and signs of acute malnutrition.
While the majority of cases reported are among children particularly those under five years of age, all severe cases were reported to be severely malnourished. Given the clinical presentation and symptoms reported, and many associated deaths, acute pneumonia, influenza, COVID-19, measles and malaria are being considered as potential causal factors with malnutrition as a contributing factor.
Malaria is a common disease but with limited control measures in the area, and it may be causing or contributing to the cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated.
WHO said that laboratory tests were underway to determine the exact cause. “At this stage, it is also possible that more than one disease is contributing to the cases and deaths,” WHO suspected.
The outbreak is still ongoing. According to a press briefing by the Ministry of Health on December 5, there have been several additional deaths outside of health facilities (community deaths). These deaths still need to be investigated, characterized (age, gender etc) and verified.
Cases have been reported from nine out of 30 health areas in the Panzi health zone: Kahumbulu, Kambandambi, Kanzangi, Kasanji, Kiama, Mbanza Kipungu, Makitapanzi, Mwini ngulu, and Tsakala Panzi. The majority of cases (95.8%) are reported from Tsakala Panzi (169), Makitapanzi (142) and Kanzangi (78) health areas.
The area where the disease has spread is rural and remote, with access further hindered by the ongoing rainy season. Reaching it from Kinshasa by road takes an estimated 48 hours.
These challenges, coupled with limited diagnostics in the region, have delayed the identification of the underlying cause. Rapid response teams have been deployed to identify the cause of the outbreak and strengthen the response.
The teams are collecting samples for laboratory testing, providing a more detailed clinical characterization of the detected cases, investigating the transmission dynamics, and actively searching for additional cases, both within health facilities and at the community level. The teams are also aiding with the treatment of patients, risk communication and community engagement.
WHO said that on November 29, 2024, the Ministry of Public Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported to the Organization an alert regarding increased deaths from an undiagnosed cause in the Panzi health zone.
